Jo is disarmingly sweet, and is in hot pursuit of her dream. When 10-year-old Chris joins her, it becomes a super-terrific fun ride. Jo and the Boy, starring Manju Warrier and Sanoop Santhosh in the lead, is a film that captures their ebullient trip in a rush of warmth and humour. “Yes, it stars a woman and kid in the lead. But it’s not a female-centric film or a children’s film. I would call it a clean entertainer with a handful of fresh ingredients. The film is strewn with little surprises that will excite and impress the audience. Moreover, it’s a film that will inspire you to dream,” says director Rojin Thomas.
Ranging from impossible to insane, everyone will have some crazy dream in their childhood. Jo Ann Mary, a college lecturer in her early 30s, decides to chase it. “Jo, the character played by Manju Warrier, is is a blend of child-like innocence and energy. She quits her job to pursue her seemingly-unattainable dream and the entire film revolves around her and Chris, the character played by Sanoop,” he explains.
Rojin says though the film is a totally realistic take, it’s woven around some futuristic concepts. “You can’t call it a fantasy, but there are elements that will intrigue you,” he says. Rojin adds that he started working on the film immediately after Philips and the Monkey Pen, his debut film that was a huge box office success.
“It was a golden coincidence that Manju chechi made her comeback during the time. I don’t think any other actress could fit into the role so well. She took the character to another level making it impossible to imagine anyone else in Jo’s shoes.” Other than the lead duo, Jo and the Boy presents a bevy of fresh faces along with Pearlie Manney, Sudheer Karamana, Lalu Alex, Sunil Sukhada and Kala Ranjini. Rojin says it took him nearly two years to complete the script of Jo and the Boy.
“Just like Monkey Pen it’s meant for all sections of the audience. But this time the focus is on the youth rather than children,” he says.
Apart from its sanguine storyline, the USP of the film will be its location, says Rojin. “The main backdrop, which is 6000 ft above sea level, supports the plot in a very interesting way. We wanted an uncommon locale with wavering climate for the film and finally found this high-altitude place which is 300 ft above Kodaikanal,” he adds. Jo and the Boy, produced by Alice George under the banner of Goodwill Entertainments, is expected to hit the screens shortly.